When my father asked me to create bread plates for his formal dinners, this ancient phrase sparked my imagination. The result is a collection that brings together nourishment and storytelling. Each plate features different performers from the classical circus world – the musician reaching toward stars, the lion with his elegant tamer, figures in their characteristic costumes – all rendered in crisp black illustrations against warm stoneware.
Each plate is individually crafted in my Brooklyn studio, where careful attention transforms these 6-inch stoneware pieces into stages for both food and conversation. Using underglaze transfer techniques and finished with a clear glaze fired at cone 6, every piece carries its own unique character within the collection. The plates work beautifully for salads, appetizers, and desserts, while also standing alone as decorative pieces that invite dialogue about art, culture, and the enduring relevance of "Panem et Circenses" in contemporary life.
when italian stories seasons the table
"Bread and circuses" – that's what Panem et Circenses means in Latin. The phrase captures something timeless about human nature: how entertainment and food can sometimes distract us from what truly matters. Growing up in Italy, I heard these words often. They're part of our cultural conversation, a way to talk about the delicate balance between pleasure and substance, distraction and engagement.
